Sigma 24-70mm D 1:2.8 EX DG Macro review

If I had to sum up this lens from the start, It has to be along the lines of: Budget lens that really punches high above its price tag.

The fantastic Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 is just a outstanding hidden gem of a lens.

With a very low price tag for a full frame standard zoom lens, less than £300 on todays market, infact my own when I bought my lens earlier this year, I picked it up for £220 from a landscape photographer and it was kept in top shape.

The Nikon equivalent for that money is the 24-85mm 3.5-4.5G ED VR, which currently costs £300 roughly and wouldn't touch the Sigma optically, nor does it have the same fast and large aperture the Sigma offers.

The lens is aging now, I wont hide the fact you can grab much newer and even a lens that is optically superior within this focal range, but what this old Sigma does well is have great a price tag, with great optical quality.

What it provides is a standard zoom range to someone who is either on a tight budget and just began buying glass for the Full frame camera he or she just picked up (such was my case) or or for someone who's not looking to spend the £900 on a second hand Nikon version (or £600 for a new version of the Sigma)

I recently done a sharpness test, between this Sigma 24-70 and the Nikon 50mm 1.8G prime lensPrimes have always been superior to zooms in terms of image quality and sharpness

Sigma 24-70 f2.8

Taken at 4000 ISO, at 52mm F5

Nikon 50m 1.8G

Taken at 4000 ISO, F5

Sigma 24-70 F2.8

Taken at 4000 ISO, at 52mm F5

Nikon 50mm 1.8G

Taken at 4000 ISO, F5

I think you can agree the difference between the Sigma 24-70 zoom and the Nikon 50mm prime is negligible

The lens uses a older AF system where the focus is moved via screw drive, the draw backs are mainly loud function, and the speed is somewhat reduced over modern hyper sonic motors.

Sometimes clients or venues demand a whisper quiet photographer, with no sound of click clacking from your shutter, nor the motor from the auto focus, so consider this before buying the lens, although its really not that loud, and even less noticeable.

screw drive

Sticking with the old ways, the lens also features the aperture selector ring, which modern lenses lack, flick the lock and you can select the aperture you want, full time and forced, very helpful for selecting your own aperture during video capture.

One of the reasons I get on with the lens is its very backwards compatible, it works with modern upper level bodies (that have a built in focus motor) and it also works with older bodies, I have a Nikon F801 film body that can use this lens to its full extent.That camera relies on a aperture ring for the aperture selection, and only auto focuses with screw drive lenses.

The focusing switch is a bit of an oddball on this lens, it uses Sigmas "dual clutch system"

roughly translated, its a sliding switch that when in the AF position, the motor is engaging with the focus gears but the focus ring isn't, but when you slide the switch down to the MF position, the focus ring suddenly engages with the gears itself, allowing you to manually move the focus elements.

It is a large focus ring, the movements are tight and direct, however the movement is also very stiff and sticky in feeling, as you are still for some reason moving the motor inside the camera body, which is audible .

The image produced from this lens is vibrant, sharp and with no wash out from light in the line of sight.

The coating is behind the times, and therefore results in flare ghosting when pointed at the sun, but this is a hot topic for many lenses and direct sunlight photos should always be avoided when possible no matter what lens you use.

Not the best photo, it was taken in direct afternoon sunlight, however the flare issue is most prominent here, but I have never encountered this issue since

Slightly hefty in weight, weighing around 900 grams, it is short and stubby as far as its rivals go, its longer than the newer equivalent of this lens however, its true length comes into play at the wider angle lengths, where the barrel pokes out a good inch an half more than in the tele zoom setting.

There is minimal pincushion distortion at wide angles, and no barrel distortion at the tele end of the lens, nor is there much loss in edge sharpness at either end of the zoom.

Taken at 24mm f8

24mm f8

70mm f8

70mm f4

With a very pleasing bokeh, both creamy and easy on the eye, using the constant 2.8 aperture is tempting, but like all lenses wide open, it suffers in sharpness.The lens has a sweet spot between F4 and F5.6, and being tack sharp at F8

70mm f2.8

With very pleasing Bokeh ball sindeed

To sum up, I find this Sigma 24-70 a very good lens, great value for money, with good ergonomics and handling, it is robust, strong but just slightly bulky.

With a stiff zoom and focus ring being the only drawbacks, as is the flare in direct sunlight issue.

It makes a fantastic stepping stone for those short on cash waiting to buy the Nikon 24-70.

But at any rate, it is a great everyday lens for those who need a mid range zoom, and want the artistic creativity of a fast 2.8, or even the need of a low light performer such as weddings, christenings and music events.